Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands. With more than one million inhabitants in its urban area, it is the country's largest city and its financial, cultural, and creative centre. Amsterdam is colloquially known as Venice of the North, because of its lovely canals that criss-cross the city, its impressive architecture and more than 1,500 bridges. There is something for every traveller's taste here, whether you prefer culture and history, serious partying, or just the relaxing charm of an old European city.

The "Amsterdam" that most visitors experience is the city centre, the semi-circle with Central Station at its apex. It corresponds to the city as it was around 1850. Five major concentric canals ring the Old Centre; the Singel, the Herengracht, the Keizersgracht, the Prinsengracht, and the Singelgracht, together forming the Canal Ring. Other districts inside the city centre are the Jordaan, a former working-class area gone upmarket, and Plantage, a leafy and spacious area known for its zoo and botanical gardens. The roads Nassaukade, Stadhouderskade, and Mauritskade surround the centre and mark the location of the former city moat and fortifications. Almost everything outside this line was built after 1870.

Many people choose to visit Amsterdam because of its reputation for tolerance, although part of this reputation is attributable to cultural misunderstandings. Prostitution is legalised and licensed in the Netherlands, and in Amsterdam it is very visible (window prostitution), and there are large numbers of prostitutes. The sale, possession, and consumption of small quantities of cannabis, while technically illegal, is tolerated by authorities (the policy of gedogen). This does not mean that you can get away with anything in Amsterdam. In any case, public attitudes and official policy have hardened in recent years.

Amsterdam has an amazing collection of museums, ranging from masterpieces of art to porn, vodka and cannabis. The most popular ones can get very crowded in the summer peak season, so it's worth exploring advance tickets or getting there off-peak.

The locals spend their summer days in Amsterdam opening a red wine in the Vondelpark — and so should you. Every district in Amsterdam has at least one park, but the Vondelpark in South stands out for its size and convivial atmosphere. The neighbourhood best known for its greenery is the Plantage. Besides its leafy boulevards and grand mansions, it also features the botanical gardens of the Hortus Botanicus. Finally, Artis Zoo is a good attraction for the kids.

Places near The Convent Amsterdam

The Convent Amsterdam Links

Since 1993, Boom Chicago has performed live comedy at their Amsterdam theater and all over the world. In addition, they create multimedia projects for TV, video and computers. They serve delicious food, drinks and run Chicago Social Club, a late nig...

Said to be the busiest classical musical venue in the word, it was completed in 1888 Concertgebouw is one of the most famous concert halls in the world and is praised for its unique acoustics. Bernard Haitink Concertgebouw once praised as the ...

Opened its doors in December 2003. Soon, this luxurious night club gained worldwide fame because of its strict door policy and many celebrated guests. The club is also famous for its interior and sound system: Jimmy Woo won the 'Dutch Design' price ...

Paradiso has a capacity of 1500 and hosts world famous rick, folk, soul, country, reggae and blues heroes such as Al Green (2008), Jerry Lee Lewis (2004) and Smokey Robinson (2007) but also style icons like Grace Jones (2009). This hall is often fil...

This centrally-located club has the most inspired and eclectic programming of any of the city's nightspots. Early evening art exhibitions, fashion shows, big band acts, performance art and cutting-edge multimedia events make way for similarly divers...

One of the city's best kept nightlife secrets, this enormous café restaurant on the grounds of the former gasworks, Westergasfabriek, clears away its tables and chairs after dinner on Friday and Saturday and turns into a club, it's perfect if you're...

The Bimhuis provides a perspective on Dutch and international music in over 300 concerts annually, in which a variety of jazz and improvised music can be enjoyed. The focus is on new developments, but the Bimhuis also offers a significant selection ...

Besides productions by the resident companies, The Amsterdam Music Theatre also presents productions by companies from the Netherlands and abroad and has played host to some very great artists and companies, such as the Martha Graham Dance Company, ...

The Melkweg is one of the most well-known cultural centres within and outside the Netherlands, and is unique because of a programme that unites five artistic disciplines under one roof: music, dance/theatre, film, photography and media art. Concerts...

Don't come to supperclub if you're in search of a traditional restaurant, have lazy taste buds or are scared of new experiences. However, if you're looking for an unusual dinner experience in an unexpected place and are not afraid to discover the cr...

The Dutch words gastvrijheid (hospitality) and gastronomie by happy coincidence both begin with the word for “guest” (gast) – happy for us at Ciel Bleu, that is, because here the guest really does come first. Everything revolves around you. Our sens...

Pont 13 is a bar / restaurant converted ferry that ran back and forth across the IJ until 1995.
Since 2005, Pont 13 berth in the romantic area of ​​the Western wood ports, where port industry increasingly associated with the growing creati...

In 2001, top chef Gert Jan Hageman, who had earned a Michelin star in Dutch haute cuisine, found a new direction for his own career and a new purpose for the old greenhouse that belonged to Amster­dam's Municipal Nursery, which dated from 1926...

It started in August 1993 with a tiny Thai take away restaurant. There were no more than three tables.
In those days the reputation of the Zeedijk was not very well. Many buildings had been nailed up. From the beginning business was ...

Restaurant Rose's Cantina has been in town for more than 30 years and is famous in Amsterdam for having the best Mexican food and cocktails.
This lively restaurant, located in the popular Reguliersdwarsstraat, guarantees good authent...

Hotel & Wereldeethuis Bazar was established in December 1997and is located in a listed building on the corner of Witte de Withstraat and William Boothlaan. Bazar does real justice to its name. The restaurant’s colourful tables, striking lamps ...

Things do to in The Convent Amsterdam

Situated in the heart of the vibrant “Pijp” district, directly opposite the Heineken Experience and within walking distance of the major museums, we have been THE canal cruise company for groups visiting Amsterdam for over 40 years. We are loc...

A visit to the Van Gogh Museum is a unique experience. The museum contains the largest collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh in the world. It provides the opportunity to keep track of the artist's developments, or compare his paintings to work...

The Anne Frank House located on the Prinsengracht canal in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is a museum dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank, who hid from Nazi persecution with her family and four other people in hidden rooms at the rear of the...

Come to Keukenhof and fall in love with spring! In addition to the beautiful flowers, it also buzzes here with activities. We will have our sensational flower shows again, all of them designed by leading Dutch flower arrangers. The parc is an absolu...

Amsterdam is the perfect city for exploring by bike. You don’t have to wait for a tram or bus, you’re not stuck in traffic, and you can park easily, wherever you like. That means you’re free to do as you please. Furthermore, cycling is incredi...

Amsterdam is one of only a few places in the world where the stance on cannabis has more of a relaxed affair. Almost half a million travelers come to Amsterdam each year expressly because of its cannabis coffeeshops, and a quarter of all visitors st...

There's no place like the Albert Cuyp street market to find your typical Amsterdam sense of humour and laid back atmosphere. Your day out in Amsterdam won't be complete without a visit to Holland's most popular street market. Since 1905 the "C...

The Zaanse Schans is a delightful village on the banks of the river Zaan with characteristic green wooden houses, charming stylized gardens, small hump-backed bridges, tradesmen's workshops, historic windmills and engaging little shops.
...

De Wallen or De Walletjes is the largest, and best-known, red-light district in Amsterdam and a major tourist attraction. It is located in the heart of the oldest part of the city (Amsterdam-Centrum), covering several blocks south of the church Oude...

The Convent Amsterdam Nightlife

Since 1993, Boom Chicago has performed live comedy at their Amsterdam theater and all over the world. In addition, they create multimedia projects for TV, video and computers. They serve delicious food, drinks and run Chicago Social Club, a late nig...

Said to be the busiest classical musical venue in the word, it was completed in 1888 Concertgebouw is one of the most famous concert halls in the world and is praised for its unique acoustics. Bernard Haitink Concertgebouw once praised as the ...

Opened its doors in December 2003. Soon, this luxurious night club gained worldwide fame because of its strict door policy and many celebrated guests. The club is also famous for its interior and sound system: Jimmy Woo won the 'Dutch Design' price ...

Paradiso has a capacity of 1500 and hosts world famous rick, folk, soul, country, reggae and blues heroes such as Al Green (2008), Jerry Lee Lewis (2004) and Smokey Robinson (2007) but also style icons like Grace Jones (2009). This hall is often fil...

This centrally-located club has the most inspired and eclectic programming of any of the city's nightspots. Early evening art exhibitions, fashion shows, big band acts, performance art and cutting-edge multimedia events make way for similarly divers...

One of the city's best kept nightlife secrets, this enormous café restaurant on the grounds of the former gasworks, Westergasfabriek, clears away its tables and chairs after dinner on Friday and Saturday and turns into a club, it's perfect if you're...

The Bimhuis provides a perspective on Dutch and international music in over 300 concerts annually, in which a variety of jazz and improvised music can be enjoyed. The focus is on new developments, but the Bimhuis also offers a significant selection ...

Besides productions by the resident companies, The Amsterdam Music Theatre also presents productions by companies from the Netherlands and abroad and has played host to some very great artists and companies, such as the Martha Graham Dance Company, ...

The Melkweg is one of the most well-known cultural centres within and outside the Netherlands, and is unique because of a programme that unites five artistic disciplines under one roof: music, dance/theatre, film, photography and media art. Concerts...

The Convent Amsterdam Dining

Don't come to supperclub if you're in search of a traditional restaurant, have lazy taste buds or are scared of new experiences. However, if you're looking for an unusual dinner experience in an unexpected place and are not afraid to discover the cr...

The Dutch words gastvrijheid (hospitality) and gastronomie by happy coincidence both begin with the word for “guest” (gast) – happy for us at Ciel Bleu, that is, because here the guest really does come first. Everything revolves around you. Our sens...

Pont 13 is a bar / restaurant converted ferry that ran back and forth across the IJ until 1995.
Since 2005, Pont 13 berth in the romantic area of ​​the Western wood ports, where port industry increasingly associated with the growing creati...

In 2001, top chef Gert Jan Hageman, who had earned a Michelin star in Dutch haute cuisine, found a new direction for his own career and a new purpose for the old greenhouse that belonged to Amster­dam's Municipal Nursery, which dated from 1926...

It started in August 1993 with a tiny Thai take away restaurant. There were no more than three tables.
In those days the reputation of the Zeedijk was not very well. Many buildings had been nailed up. From the beginning business was ...

Restaurant Rose's Cantina has been in town for more than 30 years and is famous in Amsterdam for having the best Mexican food and cocktails.
This lively restaurant, located in the popular Reguliersdwarsstraat, guarantees good authent...

Hotel & Wereldeethuis Bazar was established in December 1997and is located in a listed building on the corner of Witte de Withstraat and William Boothlaan. Bazar does real justice to its name. The restaurant’s colourful tables, striking lamps ...